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Open wide, Baker Lake

More dental services for hamlet

Chris Puglia
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (Apr 09/03) - Concerns that the Hamlet of Baker Lake has been receiving inadequate dental services could be alleviated this year.

Health Minister Ed Picco said the government, in its contract with Nunavut Dental Services, is planning to extend the number of service days in that community.

The service extension would be applicable to both dental and denturist services.

The issue was raised by MLA for Baker Lake Glenn McLean who said residents were not getting the service they needed.

"Every time you try to call for an appointment they are booked," said McLean.

Picco said there were 131 dental days in the community last year.

"If you take out Christmas and weekends that is a visit one out of every three days," he said.

That being said Picco added that the department recognizes there is a need for an increase to the number of days dental services are available.

"We're going to put an additional 30 days into that," said Picco.

As well 30 days will be added to the number of denturist days in the community. That will bring the total days for that service up to 60.

Another concern raised in the constituency of Baker Lake has been the vacancy of a dental therapist position.

A dental therapist was stationed at the school in Baker Lake to assist children in Grades K to 6 with basic dental care.

"It's a nice little program. It might cost the government $80,000 but you can't measure that in the good it does," said McLean.

The school dental therapists serves nearly 350 students and has been vacant for nearly two years.

Picco said the department has been actively recruiting to fill the vacancy,

"They are very hard to get," he said.

Fortunately, he added, the department's recruiting has been successful and Picco expects the position to be filled in the next two weeks.